Is New Year's Eve a Federal Holiday? No — Dec. 31, 2026
No, New Year's Eve is not a federal holiday: 5 U.S.C. 6103(a) lists 11 legal public holidays and New Year's Eve is not one of them. New Year's Eve 2026 is Thursday, December 31, 2026. But Friday, December 31, 2027 is a federal holiday for most federal employees: it is the observed day for New Year's Day 2028, which falls on Saturday, January 1, 2028.
The number of days to Thursday, December 31, 2026 appears here once the page loads in your browser.
Maintained by Archie Chang · Federal sources checked November 1, 2026 · Methodology & sources
All dates for the year: federal holidays 2026 and federal holidays 2027. To check any other day, use the federal holiday checker.
The law: what 5 U.S.C. 6103(a) says about New Year's Eve
5 U.S.C. 6103(a), quoted below, lists the legal public holidays. There are 11, and New Year's Eve is not one of them. OPM's federal holidays tables for 2026 through 2030 have no row for New Year's Eve either.
(a) The following are legal public holidays: New Year's Day, January 1. Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., the third Monday in January. Washington's Birthday, the third Monday in February. Memorial Day, the last Monday in May. Juneteenth National Independence Day, June 19. Independence Day, July 4. Labor Day, the first Monday in September. Columbus Day, the second Monday in October. Veterans Day, November 11. Thanksgiving Day, the fourth Thursday in November. Christmas Day, December 25.
Source: 5 U.S.C. 6103: Holidays (GovInfo), OPM: Federal Holidays (2026 to 2030 tables)
Who gets the day off on New Year's Eve 2026
New Year's Eve 2026 is Thursday, December 31, 2026. It is not a legal public holiday, so it does not change a federal employee's holiday schedule on that day. The table shows what the Federal Reserve, USPS, NYSE and SIFMA lists say for Thursday, December 31, 2026; each row names its source.
OPM's rule for a holiday that falls on a Saturday or Sunday is quoted below. It does not apply to Thursday, December 31, 2026, but it does apply to New Year's Day 2028: for most federal employees OPM treats Friday, December 31, 2027 as the holiday for pay and leave (see the section on December 31, 2027).
If a holiday falls on a Saturday, for most Federal employees, the preceding Friday will be treated as a holiday for pay and leave purposes. (See 5 U.S.C. 6103(b).) If a holiday falls on a Sunday, for most Federal employees, the following Monday will be treated as a holiday for pay and leave purposes. (See Section 3(a) of Executive Order 11582, February 11, 1971.)
| Who | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Federal offices and agencies | Normal schedule (no holiday listed) | New Year's Eve is not in 5 U.S.C. 6103(a) and has no row in OPM's holiday tables, so it does not make Thursday, December 31, 2026 a federal holiday.Source: OPM: Federal Holidays (2026 to 2030 tables), 5 U.S.C. 6103: Holidays (GovInfo) |
| Federal Reserve Banks | Normal schedule (no holiday listed) | Neither the Federal Reserve Financial Services holiday schedule nor the Board's K.8 table lists a holiday on Thursday, December 31, 2026, so Federal Reserve Banks keep their normal schedule. Whether a bank or credit union branch is open is up to each bank: each bank sets its own hours, so check with yours.Source: Federal Reserve Financial Services: Holiday Schedules, Federal Reserve Board: Holidays Observed (K.8) |
| USPS Post Offices and delivery | Normal schedule (no holiday listed) | Not a USPS holiday: regular delivery runs. This date is not on the USPS holiday list. USPS says: “Regular mail delivery occurs Monday through Saturday, with the exception of postal holidays.” Hours vary by location. Confirm local Post Office hours with USPS.Source: USPS: holidays and events, USPS FAQ: No mail delivery? |
| Stock market (NYSE) | Normal schedule (no holiday listed) | NYSE's holiday list does not list Thursday, December 31, 2026 as a closure. This page covers NYSE; check your exchange or broker for its own calendar.Source: NYSE: holidays and trading hours |
| Bond market (SIFMA recommendation) | Normal schedule (no holiday listed) | SIFMA's U.S. holiday schedule shows an early close at 2:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, December 31, 2026 (New Year's Eve).Source: SIFMA: U.S. holiday schedule |
Source: OPM: Federal Holidays (2026 to 2030 tables), Federal Reserve Financial Services: Holiday Schedules, Federal Reserve Board: Holidays Observed (K.8), USPS: holidays and events, NYSE: holidays and trading hours, SIFMA: U.S. holiday schedule
To check another day, use the bank holiday checker, Post Office holiday checker or the stock market holidays list. Related: New Year's Eve: bank hours, New Year's Eve: Post Office hours, New Year's Eve: stock market hours.
Private employers and holiday pay
Federal holiday law covers federal employees, and Thursday, December 31, 2026 is not on its list. Whether a private employer gives New Year's Eve off or pays for it is generally a matter of agreement. The U.S. Department of Labor says this about holiday pay, and about government contracts:
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not require payment for time not worked, such as vacations or holidays (federal or otherwise). These benefits are generally a matter of agreement between an employer and an employee (or the employee's representative).
On a government contract to which the labor standards of the McNamara O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA) apply, holiday and/or vacation fringe benefit requirements are stated in the SCA wage determinations in contracts that exceed $2,500. On a government contract to which the labor standards of the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts apply, holiday pay and/or vacation pay is required for specific classifications of workers only if the Davis-Bacon wage determination in the covered contract specifies such requirements for workers employed in those classifications.
Federal premium pay for holiday work, quoted below, applies to work on a holiday designated by Federal statute, Executive order, or (for District of Columbia government employees) by order of the District of Columbia Council. Thursday, December 31, 2026 is not in 6103(a) or OPM's tables. Friday, December 31, 2027 is different: OPM treats it as the holiday for pay and leave for most federal employees (the observed New Year's Day 2028), so ask your HR office how 5 U.S.C. 5546(b) applies to it and which pay rules apply to your schedule.
(b) An employee who performs work on a holiday designated by Federal statute, Executive order, or with respect to an employee of the government of the District of Columbia, by order of the District of Columbia Council, is entitled to pay at the rate of his basic pay, plus premium pay at a rate equal to the rate of his basic pay, for that holiday work which is not— (1) in excess of 8 hours; or (2) overtime work as defined by section 5542(a) of this title.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor: Holiday Pay, 5 U.S.C. 5546: Pay for Sunday and holiday work (GovInfo)
Pay periods and pay dates: 2026 federal pay period calendar.
New Year's Eve dates, 2026 to 2030
New Year's Eve is a fixed calendar date, December 31. The table gives the weekday of that date for each year; the weekdays are computed and the rows are labeled as such.
| Year | New Year's Eve | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Thursday, December 31, 2026 | Fixed calendar date, December 31; the weekday is computed |
| 2027 | Friday, December 31, 2027 | Fixed calendar date, December 31; the weekday is computed; this Friday is also the observed New Year's Day 2028 (OPM 2028 table) |
| 2028 | Sunday, December 31, 2028 | Fixed calendar date, December 31; the weekday is computed |
| 2029 | Monday, December 31, 2029 | Fixed calendar date, December 31; the weekday is computed |
| 2030 | Tuesday, December 31, 2030 | Fixed calendar date, December 31; the weekday is computed |
Source: OPM: Federal Holidays (2026 to 2030 tables), NYSE: holidays and trading hours
December 31, 2027 is a federal holiday for most federal employees
New Year's Eve itself is not a federal holiday, but the date December 31 matters in 2027. New Year's Day 2028 falls on Saturday, January 1, 2028. OPM's 2028 table lists Friday, December 31, 2027 as New Year's Day, and the OPM rule for a Saturday holiday is quoted above. The table shows what the other lists say for Friday, December 31, 2027.
| Who | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Federal offices and agencies | Closed | New Year's Day falls on Saturday, January 1, 2028. OPM lists Friday, December 31, 2027 as the holiday for pay and leave, so federal offices are closed on Friday, December 31, 2027 for most federal employees; employees whose work is required that day are covered by the holiday pay rules on this page.Source: OPM: Federal Holidays (2026 to 2030 tables), 5 U.S.C. 6103: Holidays (GovInfo) |
| Federal Reserve Banks | Open | Federal Reserve Banks are open on Friday, December 31, 2027. New Year's Day falls on Saturday, January 1; Federal Reserve Banks are open this Friday. Whether a bank or credit union branch is open is up to each bank: each bank sets its own hours, so check with yours.Source: Federal Reserve Financial Services: Holiday Schedules, Federal Reserve Board: Holidays Observed (K.8) |
| USPS Post Offices and delivery | Normal schedule (no holiday listed) | Not a USPS holiday: regular delivery runs. This date is not on the USPS holiday list. USPS says: “Regular mail delivery occurs Monday through Saturday, with the exception of postal holidays.” Hours vary by location. New Year's Day 2028 falls on Saturday, January 1, 2028. The USPS lists on this page end with 2027, so this page does not show whether January 1, 2028 is on the USPS holiday list; check USPS. Confirm local Post Office hours with USPS.Source: USPS: holidays and events, USPS FAQ: No mail delivery? |
| Stock market (NYSE) | Normal schedule (no holiday listed) | NYSE's holiday list does not list Friday, December 31, 2027 as a closure. This page covers NYSE; check your exchange or broker for its own calendar.Source: NYSE: holidays and trading hours |
| Bond market (SIFMA recommendation) | Normal schedule (no holiday listed) | SIFMA's U.S. holiday schedule shows an early close at 2:00 p.m. ET on Friday, December 31, 2027 (New Year's Eve).Source: SIFMA: U.S. holiday schedule |
Source: OPM: Federal Holidays (2026 to 2030 tables), Federal Reserve Financial Services: Holiday Schedules, Federal Reserve Board: Holidays Observed (K.8), USPS: holidays and events, NYSE: holidays and trading hours, SIFMA: U.S. holiday schedule
More federal holiday questions
- Is Memorial Day a Federal Holiday?
- Is Labor Day a Federal Holiday?
- Is 4th of July a Federal Holiday?
- Is Christmas a Federal Holiday?
- Is New Year's Day a Federal Holiday?
- Is Halloween a Federal Holiday?
- Is Flag Day a Federal Holiday?
- Is St. Patrick's Day a Federal Holiday?
- Is César Chávez Day a Federal Holiday?
- Is Cinco de Mayo a Federal Holiday?
- Is Patriots' Day a Federal Holiday?
- Is the Day After Christmas a Federal Holiday?
- Is MLK Day a Federal Holiday?
- Is Presidents Day a Federal Holiday?
- Is Juneteenth a Federal Holiday?
- Is Columbus Day a Federal Holiday?
- Is Good Friday a Federal Holiday?
- Is Easter a Federal Holiday?
- Is Easter Monday a Federal Holiday?
- Is Veterans Day a Federal Holiday?
- Is Black Friday a Federal Holiday?
- Is Christmas Eve a Federal Holiday?
Questions
Do federal employees get New Year's Eve off?
Not on Thursday, December 31, 2026. 5 U.S.C. 6103(a) does not list New Year's Eve and OPM's holiday tables have no row for it, so Thursday, December 31, 2026 is not a legal public holiday for federal employees. Friday, December 31, 2027 is different: New Year's Day 2028 falls on Saturday, January 1, 2028, and OPM says “If a holiday falls on a Saturday, for most Federal employees, the preceding Friday will be treated as a holiday for pay and leave purposes.” Ask your agency about your own schedule and leave.
Is the post office open on New Year's Eve 2026?
Not a USPS holiday: regular delivery runs. This date is not on the USPS holiday list. USPS says: “Regular mail delivery occurs Monday through Saturday, with the exception of postal holidays.” Hours vary by location. Confirm local Post Office hours with USPS.
Is the stock market open on New Year's Eve 2026?
Yes. NYSE's holiday list does not list Thursday, December 31, 2026 as a closure. This page covers NYSE; check your exchange or broker for its own calendar. SIFMA's U.S. holiday schedule shows an early close at 2:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, December 31, 2026 (New Year's Eve).
Are Federal Reserve Banks closed on New Year's Eve 2026?
Neither the Federal Reserve Financial Services holiday schedule nor the Board's K.8 table lists a holiday on Thursday, December 31, 2026, so Federal Reserve Banks keep their normal schedule. Whether a bank or credit union branch is open is up to each bank: each bank sets its own hours, so check with yours.
Do private employers have to give New Year's Eve off?
Not under federal law for most private employers. Federal holidays bind federal employees, not private employers. The Department of Labor says: "The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not require payment for time not worked, such as vacations or holidays (federal or otherwise)." On government contracts the rules can differ, and DOL says: "On a government contract to which the labor standards of the McNamara O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA) apply, holiday and/or vacation fringe benefit requirements are stated in the SCA wage determinations in contracts that exceed $2,500." The Davis-Bacon and Related Acts can require holiday pay the same way, for specific classifications of workers and only if the wage determination specifies it. Check your employer and state law.
Is December 31, 2027 a federal holiday?
Yes, for most federal employees. New Year's Day 2028 falls on Saturday, January 1, 2028, and OPM's 2028 table lists Friday, December 31, 2027 as New Year's Day. On that Friday, Federal Reserve Banks are open, NYSE's holiday list shows no closure, and the USPS 2027 holiday list does not include Friday, December 31, 2027 and the USPS 2028 list is not shown here, so check USPS for Post Office hours.
Do federal employees get extra pay for working on New Year's Eve?
Not on Thursday, December 31, 2026: 5 U.S.C. 5546(b) applies to work on a holiday designated by Federal statute, Executive order, or (for District of Columbia government employees) by order of the District of Columbia Council, and Thursday, December 31, 2026 is not in 6103(a) or in OPM's holiday tables. For Friday, December 31, 2027, OPM treats the day as the holiday for pay and leave for most federal employees (the observed New Year's Day 2028), so ask your HR office how 5 U.S.C. 5546(b) applies. Your agency and pay system decide how pay rules apply to your schedule.
Sources: 5 U.S.C. 6103: Holidays (GovInfo) · 5 U.S.C. 5546: Pay for Sunday and holiday work (GovInfo) · OPM: Federal Holidays (2026 to 2030 tables) · U.S. Department of Labor: Holiday Pay · Federal Reserve Financial Services: Holiday Schedules · Federal Reserve Board: Holidays Observed (K.8) · USPS: holidays and events · USPS FAQ: No mail delivery? · NYSE: holidays and trading hours · SIFMA: U.S. holiday schedule